2013 Baseball Season/Off-Season Discussion

[Falcon]

Metallica in NY the night before the Yanks honor Rivera, let's hope this smoke leads to fire.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/22/will-mariano-rivera-get-a-live-enter-sandman-played-before-his-last-game-in-yankee-stadium/

[tim_m]

That would be interesting. Hell they could just have a live feed from it and play it on the jumbtron.

[AxlsMainMan]

Lyin' Ryan has finally broken his silemce:

Now that the initial MLB investigation is over, I want to apologize for my actions and provide a more specific account of what I did and why I deserved to be suspended. I have no one to blame but myself. I know that over the last year and a half I made some serious mistakes, both in the information I failed to share during my arbitration hearing and the comments I made to the press afterwards.

I have disappointed the people closest to me -- the ones who fought for me because they truly believed me all along. I kept the truth from everyone. For a long time, I was in denial and convinced myself that I had not done anything wrong.

It is important that people understand that I did not share details of what happened with anyone until recently. My family, my teammates, the Brewers organization, my friends, agents, and advisors had no knowledge of these facts, and no one should be blamed but me. Those who put their necks out for me have been embarrassed by my behavior. I don't have the words to express how sorry I am for that.

Here is what happened. During the latter part of the 2011 season, I was dealing with a nagging injury and I turned to products for a short period of time that I shouldn't have used. The products were a cream and a lozenge which I was told could help expedite my rehabilitation. It was a huge mistake for which I am deeply ashamed and I compounded the situation by not admitting my mistakes immediately.

I deeply regret many of the things I said at the press conference after the arbitrator's decision in February 2012. At that time, I still didn't want to believe that I had used a banned substance. I think a combination of feeling self righteous and having a lot of unjustified anger led me to react the way I did. I felt wronged and attacked, but looking back now, I was the one who was wrong. I am beyond embarrassed that I said what I thought I needed to say to defend my clouded vision of reality. I am just starting the process of trying to understand why I responded the way I did, which I continue to regret. There is no excuse for any of this.

 For too long during this process, I convinced myself that I had not done anything wrong. After my interview with MLB in late June of this year, I came to the realization that it was time to come to grips with the truth. I was never presented with baseball's evidence against me, but I didn't need to be, because I knew what I had done. I realized the magnitude of my poor decisions and finally focused on dealing with the realities of-and the punishment for-my actions.

I requested a second meeting with Baseball to acknowledge my violation of the drug policy and to engage in discussions about appropriate punishment for my actions. By coming forward when I did and waiving my right to appeal any sanctions that were going to be imposed, I knew I was making the correct decision and taking the first step in the right direction. It was important to me to begin my suspension immediately to minimize the burden on everyone I had so negatively affected- my teammates, the entire Brewers organization, the fans and all of MLB. There has been plenty of rumor and speculation about my situation, and I am aware that my admission may result in additional attacks and accusations from others.

I love the great game of baseball and I am very sorry for any damage done to the game. I have privately expressed my apologies to Commissioner Selig and Rob Manfred of MLB and to Michael Weiner and his staff at the Players' Association. I'm very grateful for the support I've received from them. I sincerely apologize to everybody involved in the arbitration process, including the collector, Dino Laurenzi, Jr. I feel terrible that I put my teammates in a position where they were asked some very difficult and uncomfortable questions. One of my primary goals is to make amends with them.

I understand it's a blessing and a tremendous honor to play this game at the Major League level. I also understand the intensity of the disappointment from teammates, fans, and other players. When it comes to both my actions and my words, I made some very serious mistakes and I can only ask for the forgiveness of everyone I let down. I will never make the same errors again and I intend to share the lessons I learned with others so they don't repeat my mistakes. Moving forward, I want to be part of the solution and no longer part of the problem.

I support baseball's Joint Drug Treatment and Prevention Program and the importance of cleaning up the game. What I did goes against everything I have always valued- achieving through hard work and dedication, and being honest both on and off the field. I also understand that I will now have to work very, very hard to begin to earn back people's trust and support. I am dedicated to making amends and to earning back the trust of my teammates, the fans, the entire Brewers' organization, my sponsors, advisors and from MLB. I am hopeful that I can earn back the trust from those who I have disappointed and those who are willing to give me the opportunity. I am deeply sorry for my actions, and I apologize to everyone who has been adversely affected by them.

[Falcon]

Seeing a lot of scribes/bloggers demanding "more" from Ryan Braun, in other words they'd all like a shot to cross examine him.

Ya know what?

Screw them.

I don't need a writer telling me what level of explanation and apology is "enough".

The moral outrage/indignation and value of their own opinion by a lot of these types has grown tiresome.

[AxlsMainMan]

Falcon, I think people are kinda' creeped out by the way Braun really comes across as a full-blown sociopath when you take into account the way he railroaded the sample collector, gloated in his news conference about getting off, plus Greinke's comments.

[Falcon]

Falcon, I think people are kinda' creeped out by the way Braun really comes across as a full-blown sociopath when you take into account the way he railroaded the sample collector, gloated in his news conference about getting off, plus Greinke's comments.

I agree totally on all the above (although I haven't heard what Greinke said, that dude's batshit crazy on his own).

I'm tired of the media yelling at everyone "That's not good enough!!!" or "We need more!!!" on anything from Braun to ARod and all points in between.

I'm not defending either one by any means, they dug their own graves in the court of public opinion.

But good f'n God - I don't need (insert columnist/blogger/talking head here) screaming
and flailing their hands above their head like they're trying to land a wayward airplane about what is the necessary level of apology/explanation.

It reminds me of George Costanza when he's pissed because someone else got the nickname T-Bone and he gets dubbed Coco.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC4C_Gcp_dM

[GeorgeSteele]

UCL tear for Matt Harvey, likely Tommy John surgery.  What a load of shit.   

[tim_m]

That's a big blow to the mets.

[Falcon]

UCL tear for Matt Harvey, likely Tommy John surgery.  What a load of shit.   

That sucks big time.

Heard him say he was gonna try to do everything to avoid surgery, that route rarely works out unfortunately.

[GeorgeSteele]

UCL tear for Matt Harvey, likely Tommy John surgery.  What a load of shit.   

That sucks big time.

Heard him say he was gonna try to do everything to avoid surgery, that route rarely works out unfortunately.

I know, I guess the thought process is that he's missing 2014 anyway if he has the surgery, so take a chance on a miracle and hope that the ligament will heal itself in a couple months.  If that strategy actually works, it would be the first time it did that I'm aware of.
 

[pilferk]

UCL tear for Matt Harvey, likely Tommy John surgery.  What a load of shit.   

That sucks big time.

Heard him say he was gonna try to do everything to avoid surgery, that route rarely works out unfortunately.

I know, I guess the thought process is that he's missing 2014 anyway if he has the surgery, so take a chance on a miracle and hope that the ligament will heal itself in a couple months.  If that strategy actually works, it would be the first time it did that I'm aware of.
 

Pretty much.

If it were you or me....rehab might work.  The UCL would be weaker, though.  For regular day to day activities..even regular excercise (including lifting)...it would be fine and likely pain free.

For pitching?  Nope. It would take more than a miracle, given the stress put on the UCL during regular pitching motion.  It will invariably tear again, because ligaments are not like muscle or bones: When they heal without surgical intervention, they are inherently weaker at the point of the tear.  They don't "knit" like muscle fiber or bone growth does.

[tim_m]

How much better are the Bucs now after picking up Byrd in the trade yesterday? They had been struggling a bit. Does this maybe turn it around for them?

[Ali]

How much better are the Bucs now after picking up Byrd in the trade yesterday? They had been struggling a bit. Does this maybe turn it around for them?

He hit a three-run homer tonight, so I'd say he's already helping them.  I hope they make the playoffs, and I think offensively he can help.

Ali

[Falcon]

How much better are the Bucs now after picking up Byrd in the trade yesterday? They had been struggling a bit. Does this maybe turn it around for them?

I think it makes them better - and "better" in a tight race is always better than the alternative.

[tim_m]

I saw he hit the homer tonight. Looks like he's paying immediate dividends. I hope they make the playoffs too. Perhaps he'll be a deciding factor in the division/wild card race.

[Falcon]

I saw he hit the homer tonight. Looks like he's paying immediate dividends. I hope they make the playoffs too. Perhaps he'll be a deciding factor in the division/wild card race.

Please keep your hopes to "wild card race" - against the Reds/DBacks/Nats.

I'm not sure I can take another "1 and done" scenario for the Cards.

[tim_m]

LOL sorry, Falcon. Its nothing personal. On another note though, what's everyone's thoughts on how Mattingly is handling Puig yesterday?

[Falcon]

LOL sorry, Falcon. Its nothing personal. On another note though, what's everyone's thoughts on how Mattingly is handling Puig yesterday?

I thought he handled it fine although I don't think it'll be the last time Puig gets yanked for jaking it.

Young guy, new country, different baseball culture, Hanley as a mentor.

Yikes.

[tim_m]

LOL sorry, Falcon. Its nothing personal. On another note though, what's everyone's thoughts on how Mattingly is handling Puig yesterday?

I thought he handled it fine although I don't think it'll be the last time Puig gets yanked for jaking it.

Young guy, new country, different baseball culture, Hanley as a mentor.

Yikes.

Yeah i thought he handled it the right way too. Mattingly is old school and won't put up with that crap. Hope that he gets it that you can't do that stuff here cause the kids got an amazing amount of talent but Mattingly isn't gonna tolerate that forever. He needs to learn.

[tim_m]

Morneau to the Pirates. Wow! I didn't see that coming. The Pirates are really going for it. Two trades this week that definitely improve their team. Are you getting nervous at all Falcon?